1. Crowd funding What, why and how
Dr Caezar Al-Jassar
Alley Cat Games Ltd

2. Topics Quick overview Who I am My business
How I got into crowd funding
What is crowd funding?
Finding the right product
Building your team
Marketing/building a fanbase
Campaign page
Logistics
Delivery to your customers

3. Alleycatgames.com, @alleycatgames and info@lab-wars.com
Hello!
I am Caezar
I am here because I’m a Birmingham University alumnus and I’m passionate about crowd funding and business! .
You can find me at:
and

4. My business
Alley Cat Games

5. Go big or go home

6. $309,000 raised 3900 1 happy client + return business!
On kickstarter
3900
backers
1 happy client + return business!
Woot!

7. £63,000 raised 2100 3000 mailing list subscribers
3 board game related projects
2100
Backers
3000 mailing list subscribers
Woot!
1 year (operation)

8. What is crowd funding?

9. Let’s Brainstorm

10. What is crowd funding? You are building a crowd
Way to raise funds for a project (bypassing a bank manager)
Pool of people who are willing to pay for a product that doesn’t exist yet
Use a platform to create a page to put across your ideas/concepts
Different platforms work for different projects
“Crowd funding is the rock concert of entrepreneurs”
You are (mostly) building a team – you can’t do everything yourself
International market

11. How I got into crowd funding

12. How I got into crowd funding
By accident
Always thought of business ideas but didn’t have the courage to start one up
Board gamer!
On holiday
Playtest, playtest, playtest
Get the product ready

13. Why I used crowd funding

14. Why I used crowd funding
Small investment
Complete control over final product
Vision
To learn about project management
Access to funds without needing to convince a bank manager
Best suited platform for a creative project to get off the ground
Lots of resources available on how to present your project

15. Finding the right product

16. Finding the right product
Play to your strengths
What do you excel in or are passionate about?
Research, research, research
Who is your demographic?
Creative or innovative product
What you can’t do:
Establish a law firm, offer memberships, services etc.
Essentially: you need to offer a physical product, e.g a book, a board game, a watch etc.

17. What would you launch, why and who would you market to?

18. Network, Network, Network
Build your team
Network, Network, Network

19. Building the all star team
It is unlikely you can do everything yourself
Who will do the work required to get the project off the ground?
Look at lab wars/cauldron master….

20. Building the all star team
Graphic designer
Illustrator
Playtesters
Understanding wife/husband/girlfriend/boyfriend
Manufacturer
Bank (international transfers)
Logistical partners
Start a Ltd ?
Marketing manager
Project manager

21. Marketing / building a fanbase
“Build a better community”

22. Marketing / building a fanbase
Who is your fanbase? Who is your demographic?
How do you access them?
Where are they most likely to see your product?
Mediums?
Facebook? Twitter? Reddit? Instagram?
Online presence
You are the brand
Blog
Active contributing backer on others’ campaigns

23. Importance of building a fanbase
Campaigns that fund quickly will catch the eye
Funded campaigns more likely to receive backing
If you receive 33% of your target in first few days you are more likely to fund
Essentially, you need a crowd of fans ready on day 1 to say “I believe in this product” which sends a strong signal out to others saying this is something they should back too.

24. Building your campaign page
Stand out from the crowd

25. How would you best showcase your product?

26. Building your campaign page
Pick a name
Project video
Funding goal?
Graphic design
Time and length
Reward levels (including a $1 level)
Early birds?
Stretch goals?
Bundles?
Shipping
Delivery timeframe
Updates

27. Main image

28. Reward tiers

29. Shipping

30. Updates – connecting with your backers

31. Logistics
Delivering on time

32. Logistics Manufacturer Shipping Fulfilment
Costs (weight, dimensions, pallets)
Time frame?
Where are the risks in the chain?

33. References

34. Winners?

35. Alleycatgames.com, @alleycatgames and info@lab-wars.com
Thank you!
Any questions? .
You can find me at:
and